Step-ladder.



0. J. REED & c. B. SPOONER.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 190B.

Patented Jan. 12,1909.

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STEP LADDER. APPLIOATION I'ILED 111111.14 1908.

909,669. I Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

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51 Ww Wtow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE J. REED AND CHIRON B. SPOONER, OF LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA.

STEP-LADDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLARENCE J. REED and OHIRON B. SPOONER, citizens of the United States, residing at Lake Charles, in the parish of 'Calcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to extension stepladders, and has for its object to provide a strong and rigid ladder that may be quickly changed from an ordinary step-ladder to a plain ladder and vice versa, and one wherein the rear or back support is hinged to the main support in a more rigid manner than the one now in use, thereby throwing the weight of the person using it uniformly on both the main support and rear support, and thus obviating any jiggling or walking tendency when the ladder is in use.

The rigidity of the ladder is further provided for by the back supports being hinged in plates on the outside of the main support.

Vith these and other objects in view our invention consists in the construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals refer to like parts in all the views Figure 1, is a perspective view of our improved extension ladder. Fig. 2, is an en larged detail view of the upper part, showing the parts in position when folded. Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail view of the upper part, showing the parts in their position when extended. Fig. 4, is a section on the line 4.& of Fig. 8.

1, represents the main support of our ladder which is composed of the side pieces 2, supporting the steps 3, and the top step 4. These side pieces are securely held by braces or tie rods 5. The top step 4, is larger than the steps 3, and a portion of it extends over the sides as shown at 6. 7 represents slots cut. in the ends of the top step 1, and which are protected by countersunk plates 8, screwed to the sides. Countersunk into the sides 2, of the main support 1, near the top, we provide an inverted L-shaped plate 9, held by screws 10. 11, represents an inverted L- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Serial No. 421,062.

shaped slot cut in the plate 9, the rearwardly extending portion 12, of which iscut slightly below the top 13, of the slot 11, and extends beyond the rear of the side pieces 2, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Hinged in the inverted L-shaped plates 9, on the main support 1, isthe back support 14, which consists of a short section of an ordinary ladder having side pieces 15, and rungs 16. This back support is held and hinged to the main support a little below the top step 41, and on the outside of the side pieces 2, by hinge bolts 16, which pass through the sides 15, at their ends and are held thereto by nuts 17. The insides of these hinge bolts travel in the slots 11 and 12; and to hold them in the slots the bolts are provided with enlarged heads 18. 19, represents studs arranged on the inside of the side pieces 15, and held by the nuts 20*. These studs 19, engage with apertures in one end of the braces 20, held in the sides 2, of the main support 1, when the ladder is used as a step-ladder.

When it is desired to convert our improved ladder from a step-ladder, resembling the common form now in use, as shown in Fig. 1, to a plain ladder, as shown in Fig. 3, the operation is as follows The rear support, after the braces 20, have been disengaged from the studs 19, is raised and swung out in a circle until it comes in line with the main part of the ladder, the bottom of the back support forming the top of the straight ladder. The coupling is made by the hinge bolts 16, dropping into the bottom parts of the slots 11, and the studs 19, dropping into the slots 7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. The weight of the rear support causes it to settle into place automatically; the bolts and studs each fitting into their respective slots.

The coupling is further strengthened by the overhanging portions 6, of the top step 4, coming against the sides of the back support in such a manner that the back support rests against it when extended.

Vhen it is desired to fold the ladder for storage, shipment etc., supposing it to be set up as a step-ladder for example, and in which position of parts the bolts 16, fit in the upper parts 13, of the slots 11, and the braces 21, are connected to the studs 19, all as shown in Fig. 1, then it is only necessary to release the braces 21, from the studs 19, and push the back support containing the hinge bolts which travel in the slots 11 and 12, to the rear of the slots 12, as shown in Fig. 2. This will allow the side of the back support to fold completely against the main support, as shown.

Another important featureof our ladder is that since the back support has no braces placed vertically or diagonally, the ladder is made available for a trestle through which staging planks may be extended.

Having now described our invention, what we claim is In an extension step-ladder, the combination of a main support; a top step on said main support; slots cut in the ends of said top step, said top step having an extension over the sides of the said main support; inverted L-shaped slotted plates carried on the sides of the main support; hinged bolts connecting the said back support to said main support through said inverted L-shaped slotted plates; inwardly projecting studs in said back support, said inwardly projectin studs coinciding with said slots cut in said top step when j the ladder is extended and said extension on said top step abutting against the sides of said back support, substantially as described. v

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE J. REED. GHIRON B. SPOONER.

Witnesses:

FRED W. PULLIUM, J. V. PLANOHE', Jr. 

